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In what might be one of the most egregious misuses of elected office, several states' attorneys general went to Hollywood last week to meet with movie industry executives in an attempt to limit the use of cigarettes in movies. While many state attorneys general made names for themselves with the 1998 tobacco settlement, we fail to see how the officials have any business telling Hollywood what it should or should not put in movies, at least not in their official capacities.

Smoking is an unhealthy habit and it's best for people if they never start smoking. Years of studies and common sense tell us these things are true. But how is it the government's responsibilities to be sure children get the message? In earlier times, parents made sure their children knew what was good and what was bad. Have we really come so far from that ideal that we need Hollywood to impart those messages?